Teachers Union Backs Four Local Candidates

The Harvard Teachers Union has gone on record in support of four candidates in the coming Cambridge elections for the first time in its history, Perry Miller, professor of American Literature and HTU president, announced last night.

Endorsement of two nominees for the school committee and two council candidates was delayed until five days before the elections because the HTU was checking to see if such action was in violation of certain provisions of the Taft-Hartley labor act.

A spokesman for the union hoisted the "no comment" signal last night when asked whether this move would further jeopardize the group in the face of an impending senatorial investigation of communism in American education.

Approval Comes

The Union's executive committee had authorized the endorsement on October 17, but it was not until yesterday that the regional office of the American Federation of Labor informed the University group that backing of local office-seekers was legal.

William Ackerly of the AFL's Cambridge Central Labor Union and the Rev. Rembert Stokes will receive HTU support in their fight to reach the City Council. The Union will attempt to place the Rev. Kenneth Hughes and Dennis Sullivan of the United Electrical Workers-CIO, Lever Brothers local, on the school committee.

Acts as Labor Group

"We feel that insofar as we are a part of the labor movement, we should endorse labor candidates with good records," Professor Miller asserted last night in commenting an Ackerly and Sullivan.

As for the two Negro ministers "they are old campaigners for liberal causes who have been endorsed by the Civil Liberties Union and other group," Professor Miller added.

Hughes and Stokes received the endorsement of the Harvard Liberal Union on Monday, October 6, and both ministers spoke at a recent meeting of the Harvard Youth for Democracy.

The Taft-Bartley bill clause which caused the BTU to hesitate in its campaign was one banning monetary and other contributions by labor unless is support of political candidates